By DPA
Tokyo : The Japanese government has named former Toyota Corp boss Hiroshi Okuda as a special adviser on climate change.
Okuda, 74, who is now a senior Toyota adviser and the honorary chairman of the Nippon Keidanren or Japan Business Federation, is to advise Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s cabinet on the issue.
Okuda will also take part in conferences aimed at drawing up a new international treaty on fighting global warming, the Kyodo News agency citing government officials reported Wednesday.
Under Okuda’s leadership, Toyota developed its eco-friendly hybrid cars, sales of which have helped Toyota become the most profitable carmaker in the world. It should also soon surpass General Motors Corp as the globe’s largest automaker.
Okuda’s appointment comes as Japan is preparing to host July’s summit of the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialised nations, at which climate change is to top the agenda.
The executive is also to advise the government on economic issues.